Davis, John White

3/5/1899

JOHN WHITE DAVISJanuary 20, 1859 - March 5, 1899

Reverend John White Davis was born in Linchburg, Lincoln County, Tennessee, January 20, 1859. Late in the Fall of same year the family went to Alexandria, DeKaIb County, Tennessee; from thence, in the winter of 1860, they came to New Iberia, Louisiana, where his father, the Reverend J. S. Davis, was readmitted into the Louisiana Conference and appointed to the Vermilionville and Abbeville Circuit. From New Iberia the family made their home in Prairie Gregg, near Abbeville, during the war, from 1862 to 1865. From thence they went to Opelousas, from there to Evergreen, from thence to Columbia Circuit, and settled in the parsonage in Copenhagen.
There, in the old Academy, in August 1870, J. W. Davis was happily converted and joined the Church. From Caldwell Parish they went to Centerville, Catahoula Parish. At that time he was sent to Centenary College He was licensed to preach there April 17, 1880 under the ministry of Reveend D. M. Rush, D. D. He was admitted on trial into the Louisiana Conference in January, 1882 and received into full connection in January 1884. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Kavanaugh at the same time His first circuit was Sugar Town. Then he served the Tensas Circuit and others.
On September 14, 1865, he was united in wedlock to Miss Gypsie E. Holyland. They had born unto them five children; one went to heaven ten years ago, four are living. In 1887 he transferred to the Texas Conference and served the Dodge, Deanville, Cameron and McDade Circuits. He was ordained Elder by Bishop Duncan at Huntsville, Texas in November1888.
He was then transferred back to the Louisiana Conference in 1891 and sent to the Black River Circuit. He then served the Gilbert Circuit two years, Bienville, one; Harrisonburg, two; and Indian Bayou a little over one year, where he fell at his post on March 5, 1899, to pass to the realms of eternal bliss, where he will be no stranger, as many loved ones have passed on before him.
Brother Davis was a true Christian, a good preacher, a loving husband, a kind father, and a true Methodist. No doubt but he has joined his parents and loved ones on the shores of eternal life.